Student-Athlete of the Month: Anna Grace Keller

In partnership with the Matt Wyble Team of Century 21 New Millennium, the Severna Park Voice’s Student-Athlete of the Month series seeks to recognize the many student-athletes in our area who make an impact not necessarily by way of statistics or stardom, but by their unique contributions. The quiet leader, the solid role player, the glue guy or gal, the community voice on or off the field — those are the kids we seek to recognize. Do you know a young person in our community making a positive impact through or alongside sports? Nominate them by contacting Colin Murphy at colin@severnaparkvoice.com.

With how involved she is in the community, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Anne Grace Keller.

The rising Severna Park senior is not just an impact player on the athletic field but a force for good at her school, in Anne Arundel County and beyond.

“My objective remains to be a positive driving force in my community,” said Keller. “Having been dealt a good hand in life, I feel privileged enough to be able to do so.”

Keller’s accomplishments as an athlete underscore her many extracurricular commitments but are themselves notable accomplishments. She is the starting goalie for the Severna Park field hockey team, a competitive ski racer for the Blue Knob Ski Team and a first-year rower with Annapolis Junior Rowing.

In the classroom, Keller is an exceptional student, having achieved straight A’s throughout high school and a 4.79 GPA in her most recent quarter. She is a five-times-running recipient of the Carson Scholarship for academic excellence and dedication to serving the community.

Dr. Barbara Segnatelli, who teaches social studies at Severna Park High School, said Keller is not only an exceptional student, but helpful to her classmates.

“Anna Grace is incredibly compassionate and well-rounded,” said Segnatelli, noting that Keller, a peer tutor, created an extensive AP United States Government review packet for herself and her classmates last year, then updated it for this year’s students even though she had already taken the class herself. “She has overcome so many obstacles to become the sincere, generous, innovative young lady she is now,” said Segnatelli. “I am looking forward to see the woman she will become; she will work tirelessly to make this world a better place!”

Outside of school, Keller is pursuing her interest in trauma care by interning at Shock Trauma at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where she has observed various trauma procedures and shadowed several doctors. Her interest in trauma stems from her own experience several years ago when she was in a wakeboarding accident, was rushed to shock trauma and received care that saved her and eventually allowed her to resume her life and live fully.

“It’s something that I’m very called to,” said Keller. “I’m motivated by being able to empathize with those who I aim to help, because I was once in their position.”

With health care as a possible career path, she has complemented her shock trauma internship with further medical experience by interning in the pathology lab at Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Separately, Keller volunteers with the Paws4People Foundation, which helps people navigate various struggles through canine companionship, and the SPCA of Anne Arundel County. She volunteers as a student facilitator with the One Love Foundation, which seeks to educate young people on relationship violence and safety, and leads escalation workshops with sophomores. She is also a member of the Teen and Children’s Council at John’s Hopkins Children’s Center, which seeks to improve relationships between patients and the Hopkins health care team.

Keller is a budding photographer who has started her own photography business, and she is also an intern and student correspondent for the Severna Park Voice.

More than anything, Keller recognizes and appreciates the good fortune of coming from a supportive family and living in a resource-rich community, and she realizes that others are not as lucky as she is. Her involvement in so many activities and pursuits that aim to help others is a reflection of this.

“I’m driven by being completely unable to imagine the magnitude of others’ hardships,” said Keller. “I want to do what I can to prevent such tragedy from ever happening.”